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Pharmacies dying in Berchtesgadener Land: Crisis threatens local supplies!
In Berchtesgadener Land, pharmacies are increasingly closing and local supplies are threatened. Initiative calls for more planning security.
Pharmacies dying in Berchtesgadener Land: Crisis threatens local supplies!
In Berchtesgadener Land, concerns about professional healthcare are becoming ever greater. After the latest closures, there are only 18 pharmacies left, including the St. Georg Pharmacy in Bischofswiesen and the Salzachapotheke in Laufen. This development, which has been apparent for over a decade, also means that pharmacists are facing an uncertain future. Eleven years ago there were 37 pharmacies in the district, and Thomas Wellenhofer, owner of the Bahnhof-Apotheke in Freilassing, warns that there could only be 17 pharmacies by the end of 2025 if the trend continues. BGLand24 reports that ...
The pharmacies have joined forces to form the “Without Apo you are missing something” initiative and are thus committed to their interests and those of the population. Owners like Sabine Wölfer from the Salinen-Apotheke in Bad Reichenhall emphasize the need for planning security, while pharmacists like Gottfried Melcher from Saaldorf-Surheim denounce the difficult working conditions and the high fluctuation in the profession. They also complain that closed pharmacies in rural communities are rarely reopened.
Tougher framework conditions
A central problem is the massive economic pressure placed on pharmacies. The Bavarian Pharmacists Association has recorded almost 380 pharmacies in Bavaria that had to close in the last five years. Many of the remaining pharmacies are struggling with high additional costs and stagnating income. Pharmacists no longer earn a percentage of medicines as they used to, but instead receive a flat-rate consultation fee, which places a heavy burden on income. BR.de shows that ...
Online trading and the increase in online medication orders have further reduced pharmacies' sales. “Customers should become aware of the importance of expert advice in pharmacies,” says Bernward Unger, chairman of the Bavarian Pharmacists Association in Lower Franconia. Instead of just complaining, the pharmacies in the Buch district are already inviting more service units by often also offering delivery services.
The future of pharmacies is in jeopardy
The average age of pharmacists in the district is high, which further endangers the future prosperity of pharmacies. Many young pharmacists are migrating to the industry, adding to the already acute staff shortage. In this tense situation, pharmacies are required to present themselves as well as possible, while at the same time struggling with extensive bureaucracy and challenges in digitalization, especially with e-prescriptions. That doesn't make life as a pharmacist any easier.
The closures in Berchtesgadener Land are an alarm sign of how important local pharmacies are for local health care, especially for people without a car who rely on an easily accessible pharmacy. Pharmacists like Wellenhofer are worried about an impending supply crisis and are calling for more sensitivity and understanding among the population.
In summary, it shows that the decline in pharmacies in Berchtesgadener Land is not only a regional phenomenon, but also applies to many rural areas in Bavaria. Concern about health care is widespread and a rethink is needed to secure the future of pharmacies before the situation becomes even more critical.